Random Thoughts Thread

[BRIK]

I wish veterans didn't whine so much. It's embarrassing to those of us who can get on with our lives.

I'm not American or anything... but I think they have good cause to whine.

[Flake]

I wish veterans didn't whine so much. It's embarrassing to those of us who can get on with our lives.

I'm not American or anything... but I think they have good cause to whine.

Care to elaborate?

[AppleQueso]

what exactly are veterans whining about?

[Flake]

what exactly are veterans whining about?

Post service benefits. One of the things the DoD is looking at reforming is education and retirement benefits - this is a good thing because those two programs are pretty freaking nuts.

Example: Under the Montgomery GI Bill all new recruits pay $100 a month for the first twelve months of their service. Upon leaving the military, a person with an honorable discharge was able to draw upon education benefits funded by the next set of people joining the military. Since not everyone chooses to go to college after leaving the military, the fund paid for itself. Pretty smart, right?

Now under the Post 9/11 GI Bill recruits no longer contribute any money to the fund and the amount of money a veteran receives is nearly tripled.

This is probably not a tenable thing, right? But if you dare talk about reform for any veteran entitlement programs it is like the wrath of the angelic choir has descended upon you.

Under the current retirement program, a person who serves for 20 years is eligible to retire at 50% pay plus cost of living adjustments. Make it 25 and you get 75%. If you somehow make it to 30 years you might be able to get your full pay but this rarely happens.

What's the problem with this? The program hasn't been overhauled since the 1960's - the amount of money to be paid out has increased exponentially. What's more, it's an insane amount of money to pay someone for so short a duration. An 18 year old retires at 38 and can still get a great paying job, thereby gaming the system.

But it is almost taboo to suggest changing this policy - even though it is almost as nuts as congressional retirement packages.

With so many veterans today it's like the commitment to the state ends the moment you take that oath and get on the damn gravy train - and people would rather ride that train until it derails than show some willingness to compromise to keep things on track.

The contradiction sickens me.

[dsheinem]

I think it might be funny to deny saturnfan any tapwater during the meetup at my house next weekend and see what happens

I suppose as long as I hand him a beer instead, it would be fine.

[BoringSupreez]

Rick Perry has officially announced candidacy for President in 2012. I'm glad, he seems a better one for the job than any of the other people who are running. He's got guts, unlike RINO's like Romney. If he wins the primaries, he's getting my vote.

[dsheinem]

Rick Perry has officially announced candidacy for President in 2012. I'm glad, he seems a better one for the job than any of the other people who are running. He's got guts, unlike RINO's like Romney. If he wins the primaries, he's getting my vote.

Didn't he threaten Texan secession as the economy worsened? What a patriot.

Isn't he holding a rally to pray away the recession? What a productive solution.

^These are both popular liberal narratives about him...are they wrong?

[BoringSupreez]

Rick Perry has officially announced candidacy for President in 2012. I'm glad, he seems a better one for the job than any of the other people who are running. He's got guts, unlike RINO's like Romney. If he wins the primaries, he's getting my vote.

Didn't he threaten Texan secession as the economy worsened? What a patriot.

Isn't he holding a rally to pray away the recession? What a productive solution.

^These are both popular liberal narratives about him...are they wrong?

I can't remember for sure, as I haven't read those news stories since they were new, but I think the secession threat was over Obamacare, not the economy. And the prayer thing was for rain because of Texas's drought, also not the economy.

Anyway, let's not start having a political argument here. I was just stating my random thought that I'd vote for him, I'm not particularly interested in defending it. I have my reasons for liking him.

[CFFJR]

I think it might be funny to deny saturnfan any tapwater during the meetup at my house next weekend and see what happens

I suppose as long as I hand him a beer instead, it would be fine.

You should totally do this.

In fact, first thing you should do when he walks in is hand him a bottled water.

[The Last Horseman]

^On the Rick Perry thing about seccession, its not sure whether or not he really meant to, but I would have supported hime if he did. IMO, Texas would be better off if it was it's own Republic again. We have everything we need for a good economy, and we're not completely in the whole economically.